In honor of Thanksgiving, I opted to feature a pumpkin beer today. Perhaps something to finish off the meal with or even accompany the turkey and stuffing.

C.B. Potts Restaurant and Brewery recently released its seasonal pumpkin beer just in time for the holidays. Pumpkin is a tricky flavor for beer. It can go really well or horribly wrong, depending on how it is brewed.

Fortunately, brewer Kirk Lombardi nailed this one using 50 local sugar pumpkins in the brewing process. For those who can’t wait to try it, the C.B. & Potts Campus West location is open Thanksgiving Day at 11 a.m.

The brewery's line

“This Ale is brewed with pumpkin along with cinnamon and enhanced with Mom’s secret pumpkin pie spices. It really is … pumpkin pie in a glass!”

Tasting notes

Appearance: This is a dark amber-colored ale complete with a solid head and low carbonation. The beer is cloudy in the glass with no visible sediment.

Smell: This beer smells like the inside of a pumpkin. Lots of spice, the smell of pumpkin, nutmeg, bread and fruity notes combine for a overall sweet smell.

Taste: Predominantly pumpkin spice taste right off the first sip. Similar to a pumpkin bread or latte in beer form. Sweet subtle bread and malt characteristics combine for a sweet pumpkin flavor. Further sips reveal nutty caramel flavors and nutmeg spice. The finish falls a bit flat as the warmth from the beer disappears immediately.

Mouthfeel: A clean crisp ale with warming spice overtones. The finish is weak and watery, lacking on follow through.

Serving: Draft

Overall: This is one if the better pumpkin beers I have had this year. Pumpkin can be a tough flavor to mesh into a beer, but it is done quite nicely here. The pumpkin, while ever present, is never overwhelming. More of a pumpkin cider flavor, with the spice, than pumpkin pie. My one complaint is the weak finish. This beer will fit nicely with any Thanksgiving meal.

Grade: A-minus

David Young covers beer, bikes, entrepreneurs and innovators for the Coloradoan. Reach him at davidyoung@